The U.S. and South Korean militaries ended their annual exercise on Friday, six days earlier than planned, as a goodwill gesture toward North Korea, though Pyongyang said the move is insufficient to bring it back to the negotiating table.

U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise just before it commenced on Monday.

Trump cited what he characterized as a constructive rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to back him regarding the conflict in Iran.

The South Korean military has reported that the Ulchi Freedom Shield, a joint command post exercise carried out in partnership with the United States, came to a close on Friday.

This month’s exercise was initially reported to be scheduled in two phases over 11 days, simulating North Korean attacks — the first phase, running until Friday, focused on defensive operations, while the second, concluding Aug. 27, centered on counteroffensive operations.

North Korea exhibits acute sensitivity to the latter phase.

South Korea and the U.S. had likewise scheduled 14 joint field training exercises for the Ulchi Freedom Shield period, yet they have mutually consented to reduce these by half as well, according to South Korea's military.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed Trump’s overture on Wednesday, asserting that curtailing the duration and scale of the drills would not alter their “provocative, aggressive nature.”

The next day, North Korea launched about ten short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently following through on its earlier threat to respond to the U.S.-South Korean drills, which it sees as a rehearsal for invasion.

The U.S. Pacific Command stated that the incidents did not constitute an immediate threat to U.S. territory or its allies.

The command affirmed that the United States remains steadfast in its commitment to defending the U.S. homeland and its allies in the region.

Kim Yo Jong's statement dampened hopes for an early resumption of talks between Trump and Kim Jong Un, whose earlier nuclear diplomacy collapsed in 2019.

Kim Jong Un has exploited the diplomatic stalemate to bolster his leverage by modernizing his nuclear and missile arsenals and aligning with Russia over its war against Ukraine.

Kim Jong Un suggested last year that he won't return to talks unless the U.S. drops its demand for North Korean denuclearization as a precondition for diplomacy.

Kim Yo Jong still used relatively measured language, avoided the usual harsh rhetoric of North Korea, and mentioned what she called an “excellent” relationship between her brother and Trump.

This suggests that North Korea does not want to completely close the door to future talks and may seek to win bigger concessions from the U.S., such as international recognition as a nuclear state and broad sanctions relief.

By supplying ammunition and troops to Russia, North Korea is likely to receive economic and military assistance in return, and its growing ties with Russia give it significant leverage to request more support from China, its main trading partner.

"Once this strategic play has run its course, Kim may seek further economic and reputational benefits from Washington," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"But that will probably be after the U.S. midterm elections, when Trump is expected to be in a weaker domestic political position and looking for foreign policies that grab headlines."

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, stated that Kim Yo Jong's remarks underscored North Korea's stance that a personal rapport between her brother and Trump "can't be a factor that moves current North Korean-U.S. relations."

He added that Kim Yo Jong probably sought to preempt speculation that Trump's initiative could revive diplomacy, thereby avoiding full responsibility if it fails to materialize.

Kim Yo Jong dismissed Trump's claim that Kim Jong Un had replied to his request for a conversation.

When asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would meet with Kim Jong Un this year, Trump said, "Yeah, I will be."

The Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of the principal military exercises conducted annually by the U.S. and South Korea to strengthen their ability to respond to potential North Korean aggression.

Its reduction in scale has raised concerns about the joint readiness of the two allies.